ON THE DILATATION OF THE OS UTERI IN A COW. 215 
is surprising that it has remained so long unheeded and unrecorded 
in any medical journal, although seen by so many medical men. 
I beg pardon of them for publishing it, but must say that the ru- 
minating part of the question is more applicable to my province 
and practice. 
ON DILATATION OF THE OS UTERI IN A COW. 
By Mr. J. HORSBURGH, Dalkeith. 
In The Veterinarian of the preceding month, I find a case by 
Mr. W. McKenna, at the end of which he asks, “ Might not the 
time of the former parturition be the cause of the os uteri'!” &c. 
In perusing the letter, I have no doubt the stricture was the 
cause of the retention of the calf, and consequently the death of the 
cow — that, if timely and proper assistance had been called, both 
might have been saved : but that the stricture was produced by 
the former maltreatment I think is by no means likely. 
These cases are not uncommon here, and there are few seasons 
in which I have not some of them, on which I never hesitate to 
operate, and with almost uniform success. 
I believe that I was the first who pointed out the plan of operat- 
ing in The Veterinarian, but the book being lent with some 
others to a neighbour, I cannot at present point out the particular 
place : the subject is, however, afterwards adverted to in October 
and November, 1841. 
The plan of operating is exceedingly simple to a person having 
a proper knowledge of the parts. It is as follows : — Presuming 
that, after the cow has been a considerable time ill, the veterinary 
surgeon is sent for and has made his examination, he is satis- 
fied that stricture exists. That stricture is nothing more than 
the natural substance that closes the os uteri during pregnancy, 
having taken on a cartilaginous hardness by some cause yet un- 
explained, and which does not dilate when the proper time comes 
for parturition. If the stricture is complete, he must make a small 
opening either with his finger or a blunt instrument, and, after this, 
introduce a stout sharp-pointed curved bistoury about four inches 
long, dividing the stricture laterally by two incisions, always 
drawing the bistoury towards the operator; after which he is to 
introduce both hands with the palms towards each other, and press 
them separately. He will find the part immediately dilate to the 
proper size and parturition may go on naturally, or he may then 
proceed to extract the calf if the labour has been long protracted. 
In a late number I see a case of inversion of the uterus, in 
